Requirements for the Jewish History Concentration

The Master of Arts degree in Jewish Studies, Jewish history concentration, is designed to give you mastery of an area of Jewish history. The program is a 30 or 36 credit master’s depending on whether you take the thesis track or not, with three or four required core concentration courses (9-12 credits).

Thesis Track

Recommended for students seeking to continue their studies toward a doctoral degree, the requirements for the thesis track are:

• A minimum of 30 credits of approved graduate coursework
• 24 of the 30 credits must be in your area of specialization, and 12 of the credits will be core concentration courses. Note: there will be overlap with courses that can count as both a core course and a course in your area of specialization
• Submission and approval of a master’s thesis

Non-Thesis Track

Recommended for those who do not plan to pursue a degree beyond a master’s, non-thesis track requirements are:

• A minimum of 36 credits of approved graduate coursework
• 24 of the 36 credits must be in your area of specialization, and 9 of the credits will be core concentration courses. Note: there will be overlap as a core course could also be in your area of specialization
• Successful completion of a written comprehensive examination in the area of specialization

Core concentration courses

• HJGN 672 - An advanced research seminar leading toward the thesis (for thesis-track students only)
• HJGN 670 - A methodological seminar on the use of historical sources of the medieval and modern periods (3 credits)
• HJGN 600 & HJGN 601 - A two-course sequence examining Jewish literature, culture, and history of the medieval and modern periods (3 credits each course)

Elective courses

You may choose from a wide variety of electives in both your area of specialization and related disciplines. Emphasis is placed on your ability to analyze texts and source materials of the period.